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Designing energy-efficient heat exchangers: creating micro-channels on the aluminum fin surface.

Number: pap. n. R3, 2386

Author(s) : YING J., EID K. F., SOMMERS A. D.

Summary

A new method is reported for creating chemically-patterned, aluminum surfaces using standard photolithographic practices to create micro-scale channels on the surface. Subsequent modification of the surface is performed using poly(dimethysiloxane) vinyl terminated (PDMSVT). Water droplet behavior on these surfaces is measured to study the effect of the anisotropic, micro-scale channels on the overall surface wettability and critical droplet size. Experimental data show that these functionalized surfaces exhibit decreased contact angle hysteresis, and for droplets placed on the surface using a micro-syringe, more than a 50% reduction in the volume needed for the onset of droplet sliding is observed. For injected droplets, the required air-flow rate for the onset of water droplet drainage is also decreased. Additionally, the required air-flow rate for movement across the channels is 1.0-1.2 m/s larger than the air-flow rate for movement along the channels and only slightly lower than the baseline case thereby mitigating the potential for condensate “blow-off” in application. These results which show the promise of these functionalized surfaces for improved condensate management may be used to guide future fin surface design in heat exchangers.

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Pages: 8 p.

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Details

  • Original title: Designing energy-efficient heat exchangers: creating micro-channels on the aluminum fin surface.
  • Record ID : 30000493
  • Languages: English
  • Source: 2010 Purdue Conferences. 13th International Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Conference at Purdue.
  • Publication date: 2010/07/12

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